Device for actuating the counter in a sheet-feeder.



` UNITED sTA'rEs PATENT oEEioE.

DEVICE FOB. GTUTINGACIHE @GNTER Il@ A SHEET-FEEIIEE.

Specification i l.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Application flied January 6, 191m. ai 'i'o. @55274K v which are passed through and delivered by the'sheet' delivery apparatus, the counting mechanism is actuated, according to the present invention, by a swinging finger 'tha1 is carried along by the edge oit each passing sheet thereby causing each time a stroke in the counting mechanism. In order to attain this result the 'suspended swinging finger is attached t0 'a swing arm that carries a catch for the purpose vof forming a movable coufpling. member. This catch is brought within reach of another continuously rotating coupling member by each 'passing sheet. The swinging finger is taken along by each sheet for acertain distance and the swing arm is pushed back'by the continuously rotating coupling member. While being pushed back the -yspring arm releases intermediary elements to effect one stroke in the counter. Further means are provided .for returning the operative parts into their initial positions so that a new sheet, whei passing, may cause another stroke in the counter.

In the accompanying drawing a device is illustrated for actuating the counting mechanism in a sheet feeder embodying in desirable 'form the presentimprovements.

In the form'of apparatus illustrated, the 'nger A is suspended on the swing arm B which is movable around the pin C and adapted to swing around the shaft O. The finger is made of elastic material. Its elasticitymay be adjusted by a counteracting spring D so that a passing sheet E must take the swinging finger along with its front edge for a certain distance. For the purpose of forming a movable coupling member the' swing` arm B carries on its free top end a tooth or catch F which, when at rest, is immediately before a tooth of a toothed Wheei G that rotates continuously. As soon as the the :".ooti wheei G. The swing arm B and the iinger A supported thereonY are then forced bach` by the toothed wheel Gr whereby a detent II attached to the 'arm B is released from a or bar I which 'then is 'forced upward by' springs M. The bar I carries a nose 'ii which actuates the counter.

rhe detent I-I of the swing arm B has a straight bottoni and aslanting top surface. The bottoni surface normally rests in an incision I1 or the bar I which forms a cam surface I., below its incision Il. When .a

passing sheet moves the swinging finger A and places the catch F in engagementmith a tooth. of the continuously rotating coupling member Gr then the detent H is released from the incision Il of the bar I and the springs M force the bar upward into the position shown in dotted lines. While the bar I moves upward its slanting cam surface L slides aiong the detent Il and forces the arm B to the right somewhat beyond the Adotted line position lifting the finger from the passing sheet E. When the bar I is in its upmost position the detent H has passed the cam surface Il and slides ofi' resting then with the top portion of its slant-ing top surface against the bottom end of the cam portion oi' the 1oar I. New the arm B and parts 'secured thereto occupy the posit-ion shown in dotted lines.

lFor the purpose of effecting a stroke in the counter Q the nose K o'fl -the bar I assumes a rigid position when moving upward to effect a stroke but yields when moving down so as not to actuate the counter.

To return. the operative parts into their initial positions the shaft of the continuously rotating couplingmember G-carries a cani dishV I having a cam l and the bar I is provided with a pin Z which is adapted to be periodically engaged by the cam l. The har I thus is 'forced downward and the slanting top surface of the detent H slides around the bottom portion of the bar I bringing the detent onto the cam surface L and returning it finally into the incision I1. A. saring secured with one end to the pin of the arm B and with the other to part of the frame of the delivery apparatus istensioned when the arm B moves to the right. It now aids in drawing the arm B with .finger A into their initial positions and holds them there until a passing sheet finger A is carried alongby the sheet the .'yltooth or catch F is engaged by a tooth of newed engagement of the catch F 'with the continuously rotating coupling member G, and so `forth as described.

I claim ,as my invention:

l. A device for actuating the counter in a sheet feeder by means of the passing sheet, comprising a suspended swinging finger carried forward by the moving sheet, 'a catch attached to the top of tbe swinging finger forming one member of a coupling, a continuously rotating second coupling member adapted to engage periodically the first coupling member, a counter, and means actuated by the coupling adapted to effect a stroke in the counter.

2. A device for actuating the counter in a sheet feeder by means of the passing sheet,V

comprising an elastic suspended swinging finger, a spring bearing against said finger to adjust its elasticity, a. catch attached to the top of the swinging finger forming one member of a coupling, a continuously rotating 'second coupling member adapted to engage periodically the first coupling member, a counter, and means actuated by the coupling'adapted to effect a stroke in the counter.

A device for actuating the counter in a sheet feeder by means of the passing sheet, comprising a spring operated vertical bar, a swing arm in operative connection with said bar, an elastic swinging finger on said arm adapted to be moved by a passing sheet and having a top tooth or catch forming one member of a coupling, a continuously rotating couplingmember adapted to be engaged by the first coupling member when the passing sheet has ctuated the swinging linger thereby releasing the vertical bar, a counter, and means on the bar to effect a stroke in the countcr.`

4. A device` for actuating the counter in a sheet feeder by means of the passing sheet, comprising a spring operated vertical 4bar having an incision in its lower portion, a swing arm in operative connection with said bara swinging linger on said arm adapted to be moved by a passing sheet and having a top catch forming one member of a c oupling, a detent on said swing arm resting normally in the incision oftlie vertical bar, and a continuously rotating :tooth Wheel forming the second eouplinfr member so arranged that the irst couping member is placed in location for engagement by the movement of the passing sheet` whereby the detent of th`e swing arm is released from the incision of the vertical bar.

5. In a device for actuating the counter in a sheet feeder by the movement of a passing sheet, a vertical bar having a slanting cam surface on its bottom portion and an incisiop at the upper end thereof, a swing arm with detent normally in said incision, and a swing finger suspended from the swing arm and adapted to be actuated by the weak force of a passing sheet whereby the detent of the swing arm is moved out of the incision the vertical bar drawn up and the detent pushed to the right by the cam surface of said bar. r

6. A device for actuating the counter in a sheet feeder, comprising a swing arm with swing finger adapted to be moved by a pass- ?,ig sheet, a catch on said swing arm forming a coupling member, a continuously rotating coupling member adapted to periodically engage said catch, a detent on said swing arm, a spring operated vertical bar with incision normally housing the 'detent and having a cam surface below said incision, a counter, a nose at the top of the bar adapted to actuate the counter, and means for returning the bar and swing arm with finger into their initial positions.

Signed at Leipzig, Germany, this '21st day of December 1911.

GEORG SPIESS. Witnesses EDMUND SGHROEDER, RUDOLPH Farcun. 

